Marie Solange Mandou^1,, Nelson Ralph Anthony Biolo Modo², Asafor Henry Chotangui¹, Souleymanou Adamou^{1, 3}, Mfangam Mfonte Raimatou¹, Julien Kevin Kedi A Fisseng², Swirri Christabel Shu Waa¹, Eric Bertrand Kouam¹

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial for plant growth and development by facilitating the absorption of water and minerals from the soil. Symbiotic relationship between AMF fungi and plant roots is of paramount importance and could reduce crop production dependence on fertilizers. Nutrient deficiency in the soils of the western highlands of Cameroon especially N and P is a limiting factor to grain-filling in cereals. This study sought to investigate the effect of AMF combined with different levels of mineral fertilizer on the growth, root colonization and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design arranged in split-plots using two varieties (Irad 1and Irad 2) and five treatments: control, F100%, AMF, AMF+F50% and AMF+F25% repeated three times. Results showed that all traits were significantly affected by treatments, except the plant height and spike length. Sole AMF treatment or in combination with low level fertilization (AMF+F25%) indicated better results for dry aboveground biomass, intensity of root colonization and yield. Contrarily, increased fertilization levels (F100% and AMF+F50%) reduced biomass, intensity of colonization and yield. No significant difference was observed between AMF and AMF+F25% treatments as well as between the two wheat varieties. These results suggest that wheat inoculation with AMF can reduce or simply replace the use of mineral fertilizer in wheat production in the western highlands of Cameroon.

AMF, Mineral fertilizer, root colonization, growth and yield, wheat